Horribly underrated
This movie is a little masterpiece, not just because of its exciting atmosphere.
The acting of almost all of its characters is incredible, especially Harrison Ford deserved an Oscar for that!
I do think it's a shame that some of the most interesting movies Ford made didn't do well or even gain critical attention, with the possible exception of Witness, because I would have loved to have seen more like them. Blade Runner, Witness, The Mosquito Coast, and Frantic are an entirely different Ford than the most famous versions.
See for me, I think I was at a really good age to appreciate Frantic, because his earlier movies served my interests as a young kid very well, and then as I got older, I was fully prepared for Ford to now star in more sophisticated movies, it just seemed logical my childhood hero would grow up along with me; but I think that there were older movie viewers who found it a stretch for a guy to go from Han Solo to Dr. Walker in a few years, or something - but since I went from like ten to fifteen in those years, those are probably some of the longest and most formative years in a person's life.
I tend to put this up there with The Third Man or Don't Look Now as great films about Americans lost in a European phantasmagoria. I also feel that the ending it solid because it was a totally different approach to the recurring theme of an American hero saving the world from nuclear holocaust.
Anyway, I'm also gratified that there are other fans of this mesmerizing film.
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Reason is a pursuit, not a conclusion.
Very well stated, LL!
I don't get why some of Ford fans doesn't like this movie. Sure its has slow parts but the underlying mystery surrounding the wife disappearance easily holds my attention.
Funny I think some view Ford(back then) as some sort of "action hero"? Could it be no one view him as none other than Han Solo?
Whatever the case Franctic is a tight, tension-filled thriller. Its a flaw character getting deeper over-his-head in crap while trying to find his wife.